Conservative conference 2011 | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/conservative-conference-2011
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Cameron's Little Englanders need some German lessons | John Kampfnerhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/25/europhobes-need-german-lessons
Europhobic talk of taking back powers from the EU to foster growth ignores Germany's route to real, lasting economic success<p>Nothing does your head in more as a Londoner than living in a small town in Germany. It was in the late 1980s that I found myself as a foreign correspondent living in Bonn, the &quot;capital village&quot;, as it was known before <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_reunification" title="Wikipedia: German reunification">reunification</a>.</p><p>My first culture shock came as I crossed the border from Belgium. When I presented my credit card for payment at a service station the attendant looked at me blankly, and asked: &quot;What would I want with that?&quot; I gradually got used to elderly folk peering through net curtains to see what I might be up to. The neighbourhood committee would leave notes on my car windscreen addressed to the &quot;Dear Respected Neighbour&quot;, asking me ever so politely to clean my car as it was bringing down the reputation of the street. And the shops … spindly corner shops that were never open when office folk needed them.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/25/europhobes-need-german-lessons">Continue reading...</a>European UnionWorld newsDavid CameronPoliticsConservativesConservative conference 2010Conservative conference 2011Economic policyTue, 25 Oct 2011 20:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/25/europhobes-need-german-lessonsStefan Rousseau/PAMichael Gove with cabinet colleagues in China in 2010. He has made clear he thinks EU employment law is a barrier to UK growth. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAStefan Rousseau/PAMichael Gove with cabinet colleagues doing business for Britain in China in 2010. The education secretary has made clear EU employment law is a barrier to growth. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAJohn Kampfner2011-10-25T20:00:00ZResponse: There's no 'slam-dunk' case for teaching languages to five-year-oldshttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/13/foreign-language-teaching-young-children-flawed
Michael Gove is wrong. Our schools lack the resources for these lessons<p>We read with interest your report of Michael Gove's intentions concerning teaching foreign languages in primary schools (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/30/michael-gove-teaching-languages-conference" title="">Gove: teach languages from age five</a>, 1 October; and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/sep/30/conservative-conference-michael-gove-interview-education" title="">The language of reform: Gove spells out next step on his agenda for schools</a>, 1 October). While we agree there is a crisis in some areas of language learning in England, and are all in favour of measures that address this crisis effectively, we cannot endorse Gove's comments that there is a &quot;slam-dunk case for extending foreign language teaching to children aged five&quot;. On many levels there are problems with this policy.</p><p>First, the jury is still out on what is the best age to start learning languages at school; there is no consensus that earlier is better. Much of the research claiming success in early language-learning has been carried out in immersion contexts. This is a far cry from the one to two hours a week that a primary school might be able to dedicate to languages.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/13/foreign-language-teaching-young-children-flawed">Continue reading...</a>LanguagesPrimary schoolsPrimary school teaching resourcesPoliticsMichael GoveEducation policyConservative conferenceConservative conference 2011Conservative conference 2010ConservativesTeachingThu, 13 Oct 2011 18:20:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/13/foreign-language-teaching-young-children-flawedFiona Copland and Sue Garton2011-10-13T18:20:00ZPolls apart? The Conservatives by numbers in the northhttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/oct/10/conservative-conference-2011-manchester
Things look grim at first sight in England's three northern regions for Cameron &amp; Co. But time spent with opinion polls - and pollsters - suggests a more complicated picture to the Guardian Northerner's political columnist <strong>Ed Jacobs.</strong><p>As the Conservative faithful gathered for the party's annual conference in Manchester, one would be forgiven for thinking that they did so behind enemy lines.</p><p>In a series of guest pieces for the Northerner from the Lib Dem's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/aug/19/tim-farron-westmorland-liberal-democrats-regional-growth-fund-enterprise-zones">Tim Farron</a>, Labour's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/aug/30/blackpool-gordon-marsden">Gordon Marsden</a> and the Conservative's <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/the-northerner/2011/sep/02/paul-maynard-blackpool-cleveleys-greg-clark-core-cities-fylde-wyre-skelmersdale"> Paul Maynard</a>, there was a common recognition that economically there remains a very clear north-south divide. </p><p>Whereas in 1983, when Thatcher was elected, the Conservatives lost the north by only 4.5 points, in the last election they lost by seven.</p><p>They have the look and sound of a Southern party...and the Cabinet still has a very gilded feel about it. They need more northern representation [in government] and they need to make it clear the party understands the north's unique circumstances – that the three regions are dependent on the public sector and will be hit hardest by the cuts.</p><p>The contrast between northern England and the rest of the country is not massive but there are some notable patterns, specifically that Labour has bounced back more markedly in the north than elsewhere in the country, albeit perceptions of Ed Miliband have not really fared any better. Tribally Labour is more appealing to northern voters but the current Labour leader is perhaps too Southern and middle class for Northern tastes. </p><p>Although the party leader struggles to be taken any more seriously in the North than elsewhere, the underlying perceptions of Labour are distinctly more positive. For example northern voters are more likely to trust Labour than Conservative politicians although Labour is languishing so much across the country that this is all relative. </p><p>In many ways the political situation in the north of England is just what you would expect. Support for Labour is much higher – and for the Conservatives much lower – than the rest of the country (in particular in the North East). People living in the north are also less satisfied with the performance of the government as a whole, and of its leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg, and are more pessimistic about the future of the economy. (Their satisfaction with Ed Miliband is in line with the average.) </p><p>However, the trend since 2010 is almost exactly the same as the rest of the country. If we look at our aggregate data across all our polls for the first half of 2011 and compare it to the election result, there has been an overall swing to Labour from the Conservatives of 6 points – and we find a very similar swing in the North East (5 points), Yorkshire &amp; Humber (7 points) and the North West (6 points). Furthermore, the source of the swing is similar – a fall in the Liberal Democrat vote, while the Tory share is broadly in line with what they achieved in 2010. Finally, they share many of the same priorities as the rest of the country: the economy, unemployment, crime, and immigration. </p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/oct/10/conservative-conference-2011-manchester">Continue reading...</a>PoliticsConservative conference 2011ManchesterSocietyDavid CameronEd MilibandYorkshireLeedsLiverpoolNewcastleOpinion pollsGreater ManchesterMon, 10 Oct 2011 09:16:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/uk/the-northerner/2011/oct/10/conservative-conference-2011-manchesterChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesGeorge Osborne - a northern MP but not so's you'd notice first off. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesChristopher Furlong/Getty ImagesGeorge Osborne, who announced a multibillion pound credit-easing programme for small firms funded by the Treasury. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty ImagesEd Jacobs2011-10-10T09:16:55ZLetters: Fun, fizz and frolics at the fringehttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/conference-fringes-far-from-passive
<p>Martin Kettle is correct in his analysis of Labour party conferences as &quot;public relations presentations&quot;, but wrong in his prescription (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/demeaning-rituals-waste-political-parties" title="">These demeaning rituals are a waste political parties can ill afford</a>, 7 October). We held our own fringe outside of the conference cordon. It attracted over 150 people, including dozens of delegates from conference, but also local party members, trade unionists and activists. Interspersed with some excellent speeches were even better contributions from the floor – from people desperate to speak about policy based on their daily experience. Opening up conference to real policy debates and decision-making would allow these views to come through rather than those of the Westminster bubble.</p><p>The last Labour government lost membership (almost two-thirds left between 1997 and 2010) and voters (5 million voters stopped voting Labour in the same period) precisely because it ignored the party. The 200,000 Labour party members and four million affiliated trade unionists are more in touch with public opinion than the shadow cabinet and their tiny cliques of advisers.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/conference-fringes-far-from-passive">Continue reading...</a>Labour conference 2011LabourLabour conferenceLiberal Democrat conference 2011Conservative conference 2011ConservativesDavid DavisLiberal DemocratsUK newsPoliticsSun, 09 Oct 2011 20:00:03 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/conference-fringes-far-from-passiveGuardian Staff2011-10-09T20:00:03ZHuhne says sorry to May for revealing conference cat claim was Ukip copyhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/huhne-says-sorry-over-may-cat-story
Energy secretary admits he tipped off Guardian reporter about similarity of speech to comments from Ukip leader Nigel Farage<p>Chris Huhne, the energy secretary, has apologised to the home secretary, Theresa May, after revealing he was the source of <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/07/theresa-may-cat-ukip-leader" title="">a story in Saturday's Guardian</a> pointing out the similarities between her speech to the Conservative party conference and that of a speech by the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage.</p><p>Huhne brought attention on himself by inadvertently tweeting: &quot;From someone else fine but I do not want my fingerprints on the story. C.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/huhne-says-sorry-over-may-cat-story">Continue reading...</a>Chris HuhnePoliticsTheresa MayImmigration and asylumUK newsConservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceLiberal-Conservative coalitionNigel FarageSun, 09 Oct 2011 15:54:33 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/09/huhne-says-sorry-over-may-cat-storyRay Tang / Rex Features/Ray Tang / Rex FeaturesTheresa May claimed at the Tory conference that an illegal immigrant was allowed to remain in the UK because he had a pet cat Photograph: Ray Tang / Rex FeaturesRay Tang / Rex Features/Ray Tang / Rex FeaturesTheresa May claimed at the Tory conference that an illegal immigrant was allowed to remain in the UK because he had a pet cat Photograph: Ray Tang / Rex FeaturesPatrick Wintour, political editor2011-10-09T15:54:33ZThe conference season felt like three weeks in Lilliput | Andrew Rawnsleyhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/09/andrew-rawnsley-party-conferences-unimpressive
At all of the party gatherings none of the politicians could find the words to match the scale of the challenges<p>Attending one of the late-night drinks receptions at the Tory party conference – it's dirty work, but someone has to do it – I came across two members of the cabinet. One of them was baiting the other, who had addressed the conference earlier in the day, for flopping in his attempt to win himself a standing ovation. The other jeered back at his tormentor, challenging him to prove that he could do any better when he performed the next day and loudly doubting that he would. This turned out to be right: he couldn't get the conference up either.</p><p>Nor could many of the other ministers who strutted and fretted across the stage in Manchester. They offered weak jokes about their opponents, stale bromides about the best days being ahead of us and piddling policy announcements to justify their existence and should not have been surprised that this was received with tepid applause even from a gathering of the faithful. When Michael Heseltine used to barnstorm from conference platforms, he was famous for his ability to stimulate the erogenous zones of an audience. His friend, fellow Tory Noel Picarda, said: &quot;He knows where to find the clitoris of the Tory party.&quot; His successors don't appear to know what it is, never mind where to find it. Boris Johnson, the closest contemporary equivalent of a Heseltine, is one exception. William Hague is another. Otherwise, the Tory performers failed to excite their own party, never mind anyone who might have been looking in from the real world outside.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/09/andrew-rawnsley-party-conferences-unimpressive">Continue reading...</a>David CameronNick CleggEd MilibandLabour conference 2011Conservative conference 2011Liberal Democrat conference 2011UK newsPoliticsSat, 08 Oct 2011 23:08:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/09/andrew-rawnsley-party-conferences-unimpressiveAndrew Rawnsley2011-10-08T23:08:00ZIf Cameron takes his lead from Macmillan, Osborne is in troublehttp://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/09/david-cameron-macmillan-chancellor-in-trouble
Harold Macmillan got through four chancellors in six years – and George Osborne is patently not delivering the goods for his prime minister at the moment<p>One of the few interesting messages from last week's Conservative party conference was that David Cameron's political hero is Harold Macmillan, or the Earl of Stockton as he subsequently became.</p><p>The prime minister shifts his allegiances fast, because not so long ago he was telling a <em>Spectator</em> awards ceremony that his hero was <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/2007/sep/24/guardianobituaries.obituaries1" title="">Sir Ian, later Lord, Gilmour</a>.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/09/david-cameron-macmillan-chancellor-in-trouble">Continue reading...</a>BusinessGeorge OsborneConservative conference 2011Economic policyHarold MacmillanConservativesSat, 08 Oct 2011 23:06:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/business/2011/oct/09/david-cameron-macmillan-chancellor-in-troubleChristopher Thomond/GuardianGeorge Osborne at the Conservative party annual conference, 3 October 2011. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianChristopher Thomond/GuardianGeorge Osborne at the Conservative party annual conference, 3 October 2011. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianWilliam Keegan2011-10-08T23:06:06ZDavid Cameron's conference speech: your verdict | What you're sayinghttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/08/david-cameron-conference-speech-your-verdict
The prime minister addressed the Conservative conference hall. You told us what you thought of what he said<p>This week Comment is free hosted lots of discussion about David Cameron's speech at the Conservative party conference. <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/05/david-cameron-conservative-party-city-of-london" title="">Seumas Milne argued</a> that the speech indicated continuing class divisions, while a <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/05/david-cameron-conservative-party-conference-speech" title="">panel of our writers</a> gave their immediate verdicts from the conference hall. Hundreds of readers posted their thoughts on the threads – here is a selection of some of the comments.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/08/david-cameron-conference-speech-your-verdict">Continue reading...</a>Conservative conference 2011Conservative conferencePoliticsDavid CameronUK newsSat, 08 Oct 2011 10:00:01 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/08/david-cameron-conference-speech-your-verdictMartin Argles/GuardianDavid Cameron delivers his speech to the
Conservative party conference in Manchester. Photograph: Martin Argles for the GuardianMartin Argles/GuardianDavid Cameron delivers his speech to the
Conservative party conference in Manchester Photograph: Martin Argles for the GuardianGuardian Staff2011-10-08T10:00:01ZSimon Hoggart's week: Champagne Tories show why class war will never endhttp://www.theguardian.com/global/2011/oct/07/simon-hoggart-week-conservatives-conference
They can be arrogant, ostentatious and always interrupt you. No wonder they drive some people into Labour's arms<p>✒Back from the Tories by train. My Virgin service from Liverpool a week ago was one hour late, the train to Manchester on Sunday just half an hour behind schedule, and our return this week 20 minutes late, so we're getting there. If slowly.</p><p>Michael Frayn once wrote (approximately): &quot;Every year I watch the Labour conference and wonder why I always vote for this shower. Then I watch the Tory conference and understand why.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/global/2011/oct/07/simon-hoggart-week-conservatives-conference">Continue reading...</a>Conservative conference 2011LabourDavid CameronConservativesPoliticsFri, 07 Oct 2011 20:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/global/2011/oct/07/simon-hoggart-week-conservatives-conferenceCopyright Steve Bell 2011/GuardianDavid Cameron without a condom would be unrecognisable to Guardian readers. Photograph: Copyright Steve Bell 2011 for the GuardianCopyright Steve Bell 2011/GuardianDavid Cameron without a condom would be unrecognisable to Guardian readers. Photograph: Copyright Steve Bell 2011 for the GuardianSimon Hoggart2011-10-07T20:00:00ZDavid Cameron warned to stop interfering by headteachershttp://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/07/david-cameron-warned-interfering-headteachers
Private and state school heads criticise PM's 'apartheid' jibe, saying the relationship between sectors is better than ever<p>Headteachers from private and state schools have criticised David Cameron's remarks that there is an &quot;apartheid&quot; between the two sectors of education, claiming their relationship is better than it has ever been.</p><p>Heads of top public schools, including Eton, also warned ministers that they were starting to interfere too much in the way they run their schools and risked undermining their independence.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/07/david-cameron-warned-interfering-headteachers">Continue reading...</a>SchoolsEducationPrivate schoolsSecondary schoolsEqualitySocietyDavid CameronPoliticsEducation policyConservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceFri, 07 Oct 2011 17:21:34 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/education/2011/oct/07/david-cameron-warned-interfering-headteachersSam FrostState and private schools are increasingly forming partnerships. Wellington Academy in Wiltshire is sponsored by Berkshire's Wellington College. Photograph: Sam FrostSam FrostState and private schools are increasingly forming partnerships. Wellington Academy in Tidworth, Wiltshire is sponsored by Berkshire's Wellington College. Photograph: Sam FrostJessica Shepherd, education correspondent2011-10-07T17:21:34ZTheresa May accused of lifting cat anecdote from Ukip leaderhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/07/theresa-may-cat-ukip-leader
Nigel Farage recounted deportation tale, almost word for word, to rail enthusiasts back in July, recording suggests<p>The home secretary Theresa May's claim that a Bolivian student was saved from deportation by the existence of a pet cat appears to have been lifted almost word for word from the leader of the UK Independence party.</p><p>In her speech to the Tory conference May said the courts, citing the Human Rights Act, had declared the man should not be deported because he would be separated from his cat.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/07/theresa-may-cat-ukip-leader">Continue reading...</a>Theresa MayPoliticsUK Independence party (Ukip)Conservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceConservativesImmigration and asylumUK newsHuman Rights ActHuman rightsLawFri, 07 Oct 2011 17:10:55 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/07/theresa-may-cat-ukip-leaderGareth Fuller/PANigel Farage says: 'I have become increasingly used to the Tory party mimicking [Ukip] policies and phrases.' Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAGareth Fuller/PANigel Farage says: 'I have become increasingly used to the Tory party mimicking [Ukip] policies and phrases.' Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAPatrick Wintour, political editor2011-10-07T17:10:55ZPolitics Weekly podcast: Should party conferences be abolished?http://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2011/oct/07/politics-weekly-podcast-party-conferences
Martin Kettle, Simon Lancaster and Polly Toynbee discuss the health of the traditional party conferences <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2011/oct/07/politics-weekly-podcast-party-conferences">Continue reading...</a>ConservativesLabourLiberal Democrat conferenceConservative conferenceLiberal DemocratsLabour conferenceDavid CameronNick CleggEd MilibandLabour conference 2011Conservative conference 2011Liberal Democrat conference 2011Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:17:23 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/audio/2011/oct/07/politics-weekly-podcast-party-conferencesMartin Argles/GuardianDavid Cameron addresses the Conservative party conference in Manchester. Photograph: Martin Argles for the GuardianPresented by Tom Clark and produced by Phil Maynard2011-10-07T12:17:23ZDandy Warhols frontman blasts Theresa May over conference trackhttp://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/07/dandy-warhols-theresa-may
Even the Atlantic can't distance home secretary from wrath of US rocker over unauthorised use of Bohemian Like You<p>The Dandy Warhols' Courtney Taylor-Taylor has waded into the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/05/primal-scream-theresa-may-rocks" title="">furore over the Tories' conference soundtrack</a>, following the realistation that the home secretary, Theresa May, <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/oct/05/primal-scream-theresa-may-mistake" title="">in fact used the band's Bohemian Like You</a> as her exit music after her speech, rather than Primal Scream's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3ZCZjhjguA&amp;ob=av2e" title="">Rocks</a>. Taylor-Taylor slammed Theresa May for her unauthorised use of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-GRlWPWRfE&amp;ob=av3n" title="">the song</a>, threatening to &quot;tear their fuggin heads off&quot;.</p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/07/dandy-warhols-theresa-may">Continue reading...</a>Pop and rockPrimal ScreamMusicCultureTheresa MayPoliticsConservative conference 2011Fri, 07 Oct 2011 09:02:12 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/oct/07/dandy-warhols-theresa-mayMark Mcnulty/Getty ImagesSuper angry ... Courtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols. Photograph: Mark McNulty/Getty ImagesMark Mcnulty/Getty ImagesCourtney Taylor-Taylor of the Dandy Warhols performs on stage at Carling Academy Liverpool. Photograph: Mark Mcnulty/Getty ImagesSean Michaels2011-10-07T09:02:12ZKenneth Clarke prepares for 'enforced retirement' following cat spat with Mayhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/kenneth-clarke-enforced-retirement
Justice secretary unlikely to survive next reshuffle as No 10 backs home secretary in fall out over Human Rights Act<p>Kenneth Clarke is bracing himself for an enforced retirement from the cabinet after Downing Street reacted furiously to his accusation that Theresa May gave a &quot;laughable, childlike&quot; example in criticising the Human Rights Act at this week's Tory party conference.</p><p>David Cameron is assessing whether to clear out the bulk of Clarke's Ministry of Justice in a long-awaited reshuffle, after what No 10 regards as a series of blunders. The reshuffle was due in the spring, but there was speculation that the shakeup, which will see the departure of the justice ministers Crispin Blunt and Jonathan Djanogly over separate mistakes, could come as early as next month.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/kenneth-clarke-enforced-retirement">Continue reading...</a>Kenneth ClarkePoliticsTheresa MayConservativesHuman Rights ActHuman rightsLawImmigration and asylumUK newsConservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceFri, 07 Oct 2011 00:48:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/kenneth-clarke-enforced-retirementIan West/PAKenneth Clarke and Theresa May leave No 10 on speaking terms following their argument over use of the Human Rights Act. Photograph: Ian West/PAIan West/PAKenneth Clarke and Theresa May leave No 10 on speaking terms following their argument over the Human Rights Act. Photograph: Ian West/PANicholas Watt and Alan Travis2011-10-07T00:48:00ZLetters: Can do optimism, can't do economicshttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-can-do-optimism
<p>It may be that in the Cameron and Osborne households, the family silver can be put to good use to repay credit card bills but it is unlikely to be a position many households can take at this juncture (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/05/david-cameron-households-debts-speech" title="">It's time we all paid off our debts, Cameron tells Britain</a>, 5 October). Not only are rising energy, food and transport costs eroding people's standard of living but government cutbacks and a proportionately larger burden of fiscal retrenchment is falling on poorer families. Credit cards, as a form of deferred payment, may be the only way many families are surviving week to week right now. Thankfully plan A is doomed. It is not possible for consumers (70% of UK GDP) to rein in expenditure (and repay debt); for banks to lend more and deleverage and improve the quality of their balance sheets as regulators are demanding. It just cannot happen without driving the UK into a deep recession. Growth is essential if the UK is to be able to finance new debt, repay old debt and convince the markets and credit rating agencies there is a modicum of competency in policymaking. The longer we pursue current policies, the more likely it becomes that the UK will be the next target of bond vigilantes and go the same way as Greece.<br /><strong>Alan Wilde</strong><br /><em>Head of fixed income and currency, Baring Asset Management</em></p><p></p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-can-do-optimism">Continue reading...</a>David CameronCredit cardsConservative conference 2011Conservative conferencePoliticsConservativesGeorge OsborneBorrowing & debtBanks and building societiesMoneyWinston ChurchillThu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-can-do-optimismGuardian Staff2011-10-06T20:00:10ZWestminster digestedhttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/westminster-digested-cameron-osborne
Cameron and Osborne reveal their cunning plans to party conference, and Theresa May announces a cat clampdown<p><strong>Cameron</strong>: OK chaps, glad to see you all &quot;oop north&quot;, as they say round here. And a special welcome to all the chicks. May I say how very lovely you are all looking and how much I value your contribution to the Conservative party. Make us a cup of tea, Theresa, love.</p><p><strong>Steve Hilton</strong>: That's enough chit-chat. Here are the conference rules. No one is to go off-message. If any of you have any doubts about what you're meant to be doing, do nothing.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/westminster-digested-cameron-osborne">Continue reading...</a>Conservative conference 2011Conservative conferencePoliticsThu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:06 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/politics/2011/oct/06/westminster-digested-cameron-osborneAlamyThey come over here . . . a Burmese cat. Photograph: AlamyAs overheard by John Crace2011-10-06T20:00:06ZThese demeaning rituals are a waste political parties can ill afford | Martin Kettlehttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/demeaning-rituals-waste-political-parties
The conference season – dominated by lobbyists and media and devoid of any debate – has long outlived its purpose<p>On the shelves by my desk as I write stands a volume called Conservative and Labour Party Conference Decisions 1945-81, edited by the late <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F._W._S._Craig" title="">Fred Craig</a>. Topic by topic, it contains the full text of every motion, on subjects from agriculture to Wales, debated by the two main party conferences during those years. It records whether the motions were carried, defeated, remitted or withdrawn. In the case of Labour conferences, it notes the exact result of every card vote.</p><p>When I bought Craig's book in 1982, it was an invaluable, living reference tool. I remember taking it with me to party conferences in the 1980s to compare the wording of the latest resolutions and decisions with those of the past. But it is years since I needed it. For the political world of party conference decision-making to which it refers is dead. It will never return.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/demeaning-rituals-waste-political-parties">Continue reading...</a>PoliticsConservative conferenceUK newsLabour conferenceLabourConservativesLabour conference 2011Conservative conference 2011Liberal Democrat conferenceLiberal DemocratsLiberal Democrat conference 2011Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/demeaning-rituals-waste-political-partiesMartin Argles/GuardianTheresa May delivering her controversial speech to the Conservative party conference. Photograph: Martin ArglesMartin Argles/GuardianTheresa May delivering her controversial speech to the Conservative party conference. Photograph: Martin ArglesMartin Kettle2011-10-06T20:00:00ZWhat happened to the Conservatives' green agenda?http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-green-agenda-fades
Chancellor's attack on environment laws at conference is a far cry from the Tories' 2006 rebrand as an eco-conscious party<p>It was the week the husky died. Since David Cameron was <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,1758617,00.html" title="">pulled across the Arctic ice in 2006</a>, the promise of environmental action had been at the heart of rebranding the Conservative party as modern and compassionate. &quot;Vote blue, go green&quot; was the slogan.</p><p>But at the Tory conference in Manchester this week, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/8804027/Conservative-Party-Conference-2011-George-Osborne-speech-in-full.html" title="">George Osborne for the first time publicly attacked green laws</a> and regulation as &quot;piling costs on to energy bills&quot; and appeared to abandon earlier aspirations of leadership for the UK in the low-carbon economy.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-green-agenda-fades">Continue reading...</a>Greenhouse gas emissionsClimate changeGreen politicsConservativesGeorge OsbornePoliticsEnvironmentUK newsDavid CameronConservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceThu, 06 Oct 2011 19:45:37 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/david-cameron-green-agenda-fadesPool New/ReutersDavid Cameron, then opposition leader, poses with a husky on a Norwegian glacier in April 2006 to highlight climate change. Photograph: Andrew Parsons/PA/ReutersPool New/ReutersDavid Cameron, then opposition leader, poses with a husky on a Norwegian glacier in April 2006 to highlight climate change. Photograph: Pool New/ReutersDamian Carrington and Allegra Stratton2011-10-06T19:45:37ZComment is free readers on credit card debt | The people's panelhttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/credit-card-debt-david-cameron
In the week David Cameron <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/05/cameron-speech-rewritten-credit-card-call">caused a furore over credit card debt</a>, readers explain how they manage their finances <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/credit-card-debt-david-cameron">Continue reading...</a>Borrowing & debtCredit cardsDavid CameronPoliticsMoneyConservative conference 2011Conservative conferenceConservativesUK newsThu, 06 Oct 2011 17:09:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/oct/06/credit-card-debt-david-cameronAlan Schein Photography/ Alan Schein Photography/CorbisA pre-delivery draft of David Cameron's speech to the Conservative conference appeared to exhort the public to pay off their credit card bills in full. Photograph: Alan Schein Photography/ Alan Schein Photography/CorbisAlan Schein Photography/ Alan Schein Photography/CorbisA pre-delivery draft of David Cameron's speech to the Conservative conference appeared to exhort the public to pay off their credit card bills. Photograph: Alan Schein Photography/ Alan Schein Photography/CorbisThe people's panel2011-10-06T17:09:00ZCan the Conservatives weaken the UK's carbon reduction targets? | Damian Carringtonhttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/conservatives-backtrack-carbon-reduction-targets
The chancellor clearly believes that cutting emissions faster than other European countries will jeopardise the UK's economy<p>The UK has the world's toughest targets for cutting the carbon emissions that create global warming and <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/oct/03/osborne-uk-carbon-emissions-europe" title="">George Osborne very clearly had these in his sights at the Conservative party conference</a>. &quot;We're not going to save the planet by putting our country out of business,&quot; he said. &quot;So let's at the very least resolve that we're going to cut our carbon emissions no slower but also no faster than our fellow countries in Europe. That's what I've insisted on in the recent carbon budget.&quot;</p><p>But can he actually weaken the targets? It looks unlikely, but highly polluting businesses are likely to get exemptions or handouts to ease the impact of new regulations to curb carbon.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/conservatives-backtrack-carbon-reduction-targets">Continue reading...</a>Greenhouse gas emissionsClimate changeEnvironmentUK newsGreen politicsPoliticsGeorge OsborneConservativesConservative conference 2011Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:49:42 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/oct/06/conservatives-backtrack-carbon-reduction-targetsLuke Macgregor/ReutersChancellor George Osborne: 'We’re not going to save the planet by putting our country out of business.' Photograph: Luke Macgregor/ReutersKeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex Features/KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex FeaturesManadatory Credit: Photo by KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex Features (1460055m)
George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer
Conservative Party Conference, Manchester, Britain - 03 Oct 2011
CONSERVATIVE
PARTY
CONFERENCE
MANCHESTER
BRITAIN
03
OCT
2011
GEORGE
OSBORNE
CHANCELLOR
EXCHEQUER
Personality
11162427 Photograph: KeystoneUSA-ZUMA / Rex FeaturesDamian Carrington2011-10-06T15:49:42Z